Oil burning furnace with fire extinguisher



July 10, 1956 A. H. BEACH OIL BURNING FURNACE WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHERFiled Aug. 18, 1952 8 2 DR 2 nm 3 am 4 0 .a a H F w M0 f m d M n A Y B 4M a M n M. H w. 2 M 9m f M m United States Patent 2,753,926 OIL BURNINGFURNACE WITH FIRE EXTINGUISHER Andrew H. Beach, Baldwin, Mich.Application August 18, 1952, Serial No. 304,905 2 Claims. (Cl. 1584)This invention relates in general to automatic fire extinguishers, andmore specifically to an automatic fire extinguisher for furnaces.

Every year in this country thousands of fires are caused by defectiveheating equipment. Many of these fires may be blamed directly on the pottype oil burner which has valve means for controlling the flow of oilinto the pot of the burner. Often times the valve means does not operateproperly with the result that excess oil is supplied to the burner andthe furnace overheats causing a fire. Furthermore, the overtaxed burneroften times emits deadly carbon monoxide fumes with the resulting lossof lives in addition to the monetary loss of the burning home. It is,therefore, desirable to provide a suitable fire extinguisher forautomatically extinguishing. a fire in a pot type burner upon theoverheating of the same.

The primary object of this invention is to provide an improved furnacefire extinguisher which may be conveniently mounted ona furnace forautomatically extinguishing the fire therein upon the overheating of thesame.

Another object of this invention is to provide an im proved furnace fireextinguisher which is of a construction whereby the same may beconveniently attached to pot type oil burners now in existence.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved furnacefire extinguisher which includes an extinguisher supply having means forcommunicating the same with the interior of the furnace to which it isat tached, said communication between the extinguisher supply and thefurnace being controlled by valve means which is in turn controlled by aheat responsive device mounted in the chimney of a furnace.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved fireextinguisher which includes means not only for extinguishing a fire, butalso for simultaneously shutting off fuel to the furnace and sounding analarm.

With these objects definitely in view, this invention resides in certainnovel features of construction, combination. and arrangement of elementsand portions as will be hereinafter described in detail in thespecification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a material part ofthis application and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a conventional pot type oil.burner which has mounted thereon the fire extinguisher which is thesubject of this invention, a portion of the furnace casing being brokenaway and shown in section in order to clearly illustrate the arrangementof the burner pot with respect to the fire extinguisher.

. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse horizontal sectionalview taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line2-2 of Figure I and shows the general arrangement of the controls forthe fire extinguisher;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical sectional: view taken substantiallyupon the plane indicated by the section line 3-3 of Figure 2 and showsthe relationship of the fire extinguisher controls with respect to anextinguisher sup- P y;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view through theburner pot and shows the manner in which the supply line of the fireextinguisher is connected to the burner pot; and

2,753,926 Patented July 10, 1956 Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentaryvertical sectional view taken through the upper portion of anextinguisher supply tank and shows the means for sealing a valveoperating rod with respect to the top of the tank.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical elementsand portions throughout the specification and throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that there isillustrated in Figure l a furnace which is referred to in general by thereference numeral 10. The furnace 10 is a pot type oil burner andincludes a burner pot 12 into which oil is fed for burning. Extendingthrough one wall of the furnace casing, which is referred to by thereference numeral 14', is a fuel supply duct 16 whose opposite end isconnected to a combined blower and fuel control mechanism disposedwithin a housing 18. The fuel supply duct 16 carries both oil and airinto the burner pot 12. Extending into the housing 18 and connected tothe carburetor (not shown) disposed therein is an oil line 20. Thefurnace 10 is also provided with an upstanding exhaust pipe 22 at therear thereof.

Referring now to Figure l in particular, it will be seen that thefurnace 10 is provided with an automatic fire extinguisher which isreferred to in general by the reference numeral 24. The fireextinguisher 24 includes an extinguisher supply tank 26 carried by theexhaust pipe 22 and having piping 28 extending downwardly from thebottom thereof and communicating with the interior of theburner pot 12.As is best illustrated in Figure 4, the burner pot 12 is in the form ofa cylindrical container which has a tubular projection 30 adjacent theupper edge of its side wall. The pipe 28 is connected through thetubular projection 30 by a suitable fitting 32.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that theextinguisher supply tank 26 has secured to the bottom wall thereof ahorizontal flange 34 of an L-shaped mounting bracket. The mountingbracket also includes a vertical flange 36 which abuts the other surfaceof theexhaust pipe 22 and is secured thereto by a suitable fas-- tenet38.

The top wall of the extinguisher supply tank 26 has secured thereto alower flange 40 of a Z-shaped mounting bracket. The Z-shaped mountingbracket extends in wardly towards the exhaust pipe 22 and has a web 4-2thereof engaging the outer surface of the same. The web- 42 is securedto the exhaust pipe 22 by a suitable fastener 44'. The Z -shapedmounting bracket also includes an upper horizontal flange 46 whichprojects through a small opening 48 in the exhaust pipe 22 and whichterminates: in an upwardly directed flange 50.

It will be noted that the extinguisher supply tank 26 is generallycylindrical and has an opening 52 through the bottom wall thereof whichis concentric with the upper end of the pipe 28- andcommunicates theinterior of the same with the interior of the extinguisher supply tank 26.. Normally positioned within the openings 52 and sealing the same is avalve 54'. The valve 54 is mounted on thelower end of an elongated valvestem 56 which extends vertically through the extinguisher supply tank 26and passes through an opening 58 in the top wall of the tank 26 As is'best illustrated in- Figure 5, the valve stem 56 is provided with asealing washer 60' which overlies the top wall of the extinguishersupply tank 26 and seals the opening 58*. Downward movement of thesealing washer 60 is limited by a transverse pin 62 carried by the valvestem 56 and engaging the lower surface thereof. Overlying the uppersurface of the sealing washer 60 is a spring 64- carried by the valvestem 56 and urged into compressive engagement with the sealing washer 60by a washer 66*. Upward movement of the washer 66 is prevented by asecond transverse pin 68 carried by the valve stem 56;

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, in particular, it will be seen thatmounted on the top wall of the extinguisher supply tank 26 is a mountingplate 70 which has mounted on the upper surface thereof a mountingbracket 72. Disposed in a vertical plane and pivotally connected to themounting bracket 72 is a bell crank which is referred to in general bythe reference numeral 74. The bell crank 74 includes a horizontal crankarm 76 which is pivotally connected by a pivot pin 78 to a bifurcatedfitting 80 on the upper end of the valve stem 56. The bell crank 74 alsoincludes a vertical crank arm 82 which has connected to the upper endthereof a downwardly and rearwardly extending spring 84. The rear end ofthe spring 84 is connected to an L-shaped pin 86 carried by the mountingplate 70.

It will be noted that the bell crank 74 is urged to rotate clockwise, asviewed in Figure 3, by the action of the spring 84. Clockwise rotationof the bell crank 74 will result in the upward movement of the valvestem 56 and the valve member 54. As valve member 54 is raised, thesealing washer 60 is also lifted from its seat, thereby simultaneouslybreaking the air lock in supply tank 26 and communicating the same withpipe 28 to allow fast free flow of the extinguisher fluid 88, such aswater or the like into the burner pot 12 to extinguish any fire there-In order that the spring 84 may be normally rendered inoperative, theupper end of the crank arm 82 also has connected thereto a forwardlyextending rod 89 whose forward end passes into the exhaust pipe 22 andis connected to one end of a fusible link 90 which may be formed of alow melting point metal. The other end of the fusible link 90 isconnected by a short rod 92 to the vertical flange 50 of the Z-shapedmounting bracket. The combined length of the rods 89 and 92 and thefusible link 90 is such .that movement of the bell crank 74 isprevented.

Inasmuch as the fusible link 90 is disposed within the exhaust pipe 22,when the furnace overheats the fusible link 90 will fuse and connectionbetween the rods 89 and 92 will be broken. This will permit the spring84 to rotate the bell crank 74 and move the valve member 54 to aninoperative position thus permitting extinguisher fluid 88 to flow intothe burner part 12. It will be understood that the fusible link 90 maybe set to fuse at any desired temperature.

Carried by the horizontal flange of the Z-shaped mounting bracket is aswitch 94 which has a control arm 96. The control arm 96 is engaged by astop 98 carried by the rod 89 and is moved by the same upon the fusingof the fusible link 90. Movement of the control arm 96 will result inthe closing of the circuit of the switch 94 in the usual manner.

Referring now to Figure 1 in particular, it will be seen that two leads100 and 102 of a power source is led into the fire extinguisher 24 andthat the lead 102 is connected to one terminal of the switch 94. Thelead 100 is connected to one terminal of a solenoid operated valve 104.Extending between the other terminal of the solenoid operated valve 104and the other terminal of the switch 94 is a lead 106. The solenoidvalve 104 is connected in the fuel line so as to automatically close thesame upon fusing of the fusible link 90 whereby the supply of fuel tothe burner pot 12 is stopped.

It will be noted that connected to the leads 100 and 106 are terminalsof a warning device 108. The warning device 108 may be in the form of abell or any other suitable alarm and will be activated to awakenoccupants of a house or trailer in which the furnace is mounted upon thefusing of the fusible link 90.

The supply tank 26 is of sufficient size whereby the quantity ofextinguisher fluid 88 available will be sufficient to extinguish allflame in the fire pot regardless of the operation of the solenoidoperated valve 104. This is neccessary in the event of a power failureor the like. Also, the supply tank is provided with a removable fillercap 114 to permit the refilling of the same after a fire and thereplacement of the fused link.90.

Referring now to Figure 3 in particular, it will be seen that secured tothe top wall of the extinguisher supply tank 26 is a housing 110. Thehousing 110 includes a tubular section 112 which is secured to theexterior of the exhaust pipe 22 and surrounds the opening 48 therein.The housing 110 is supported on the top wall of the extinguisher supplytank 26 so that the operating mechanism of the fire extinguisher 24 isentirely covered by either the housing 110 or the tubular extension 112.

Should it be found necessary to reduce the cost of the fire extinguisher24, various portions of or the entire electrical system may be omitted.However, in the case where the furnace 10 is utilized for heatingchicken coops or the like it will be necessary that some sort of alarmwill be connected to the fire extinguisher 24 in order to warn the ownerof the same to relight the fire. This will. be necessary to avoid thefreezing of the chickens.

While the fire extinguisher 24 has been illustrated and described incombination with a furnace having blower means, etc., it will beunderstood that the invention is not so limited. The fire extinguisherwill operate on any pot type burner, regardless of size, in any furnace,stove, hot water heater, etc.

The operation of this device will be understood from the foregoingdescription of the details thereof, taken in connection with the aboverecited objects and drawings. Further description would appear to beunnecessary.

Minor modifications of the device, varying in minor details from theembodiment of the device illustrated and described here, may be resortedto without departure from the spirit and scope of this invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 1. In combinationwith an oil furnace of the pot type including a fire pot, a fuel lineconnected to said fire pot, and a smoke pipe, a fire extinguisher, saidfire extinguisher comprising an extinguishing fluid supply tank carriedby said smoke pipe, an extinguishing fluid line connecting said supplytank to said fire pot, a normally closed valve controlling flow ofextinguishing fluid through said extinguishing fluid line, aspring-urged operator for said valve normally urging said valve to anopen position, means including a fusible link normally rendering saidoperator ineffective, said fusible link being disposed within said smokepipe.

2. In combination with an oil furnace of the pot type including a firepot, a fuel line connected to said fire pot, and a smoke pipe, a fireextinguisher, said fire extinguisher comprising an extinguishing fluidsupply tank carried by said smoke pipe, an extinguishing fluid lineconnecting said supply tank to said fire pot, a normally closed valvecontrolling flow of extinguishing fluid through said extinguishing fluidline, a spring-urged operator for said valve normally urging said valveto an open position, means including a fusible link normally renderingsaid operator ineffective, said fusible link being disposed within saidsmoke pipe, a normally open fuel control valve carried by said fuel linecontrolling the flow of fuel to said fire pot, and means connecting saidfuel control valve to said operator for movement to a closed position inresponse to the operation of said operator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,261,715 Cuddy Apr. 2, 1918 1,373,160 Barravecchia Mar. 29, 19212,216,075 Henderson, Sept. 24, 1940 2,397,474 Czolgosz Apr. 2, 19462,498,131 Marchell Feb. 21, 1950 2,538,492 Anderson et a1 Jan. 16, 1951

1. IN COMBINATION WITH AN OIL FURNACE OF THE POT TYPE INCLUDING A FIRE POT, A FUEL LINE CONNECTED TO SAID FIRE POT, AND A SMOKE PIPE, A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, SAID FIRE EXTINGUISHER COMPRISING AN EXTINGUISHING FLUID SUPPLY TANK CARRIED BY SAID SMOKE PIPE, AND EXTINGUISHING FLUID LINE CONNECTING SAID SUPPLY TANK TO SAID FIRE POT, A NORMALLY CLOSED VALVE CONTROLLING FLOW OF EXTINGUISHING FLUID THROUGH SAID EXTINGUISHING FLUID LINE, A SPRING-URGED OPERATOR FOR SAID VALVE NORMALLY URGING SAID VALVE TO AN OPEN POSITION, MEANS INCLUDING A FUSIBLE LINK NORMALLY RENDERING SAID OPERATOR INEFFECTIVE, SAID FUSIBLE LINK BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID SMOKE PIPE. 